“It is best you stay, fraülein,” he said gently. “I will be back as soon as I can with any news.”

“He’s right, Delia,” said Mayflower. “There ain’t much we can do right now.”

Hans left, sprinting down the veranda steps two at a time. I sank down beside Mayflower, trying to hold back tears of despair. “It’s my fault again, Mayflower,” I whispered. “Lily ran away to try to find me. I am nothing but a curse.”

* * *

Hans returned the next morning. He and his men had searched every square foot of the ranch, he said, and there was no sign of her. He had not really expected to find her, he said. After all, a child her age would have been unlikely to make it this far. But they had to be sure. He thought the best thing now was to concentrate the search in Shotgun City, where she had last been seen.

I jumped up at the news. “Take me with you to Shotgun City, Hans,” I said. “I need to join the search.”

Mayflower let out a small cry. “But your leg’s not mended yet from the accident!”

But Hans nodded. “As you wish, fraülein.”

I went upstairs and threw a few things into a bag. I was still limping, but I wasn’t going to let that stop me. The night before I’d had a dream that Lily was hugging me, tears in her eyes. I believed with all my being it was a premonition, just like I’d had that the Titanic was going to sink. Lily was still alive somewhere.

Hans came in. “Time to go.”

He picked up my bag and went out to the car. I hesitated for a moment, then went up to Mayflower and threw my arms around her. “Thank you for everything, Mayflower. You’ve been such a good friend. I don’t know what I’d have done without you.”

Her look softened. “Oh now, honey, don’t be going on like you’re never gonna see me again! You’re going to find Lily in no time and then you’ll be back.”

Tears pricked at my eyes as I took Mayflower’s hands in mine. The words that had been playing in my mind finally came out.

“Even after we find her, I won’t be coming back. It’s time I moved on. I’ll stay in Shotgun City for a while and save some money. Then, who knows . . .” I let my words drift off.

Mayflower opened her mouth to protest but stopped. Instead, she nodded, as if she’d been anticipating what I was going to say.

“I know, darlin’. I was hoping you’d stay with us a spell longer, but you’ve got to find your own path.”

She put her arms around me. “Don’t you be a stranger, you hear.”

“Never,” I said as we both wiped away tears.

Nora

Nora